The Sphota theory is a complex and profound concept within the Indian philosophy of language. It seeks to explain how the meaning of a word or sentence is conveyed and understood, going beyond the individual sounds or letters.
Step 1: Understanding the Question
The question asks to link the Sphota theory to its corresponding school of Hindu thought.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation
The Sphota theory suggests that the meaning of an utterance is not derived from the sum of its individual phonetic parts, but from a single, indivisible linguistic unit (sphota) that is revealed or "bursts forth" in the mind.
This theory was most extensively developed by grammarian-philosophers, particularly Bhartrihari in his Vakyapadiya.
Since the theory is fundamentally concerned with grammar and the nature of language as a system, it is primarily associated with the Vyakarana (Grammar) school of Indian philosophy. While other schools debated it, Vyakarana is its home.
Step 3: Final Answer
The school of Hindu philosophy primarily associated with the 'Sphota' theory is Vyakarana.